Kelantan AKM: Bernama reaches out to younger generation

KOTA BHARU, July 22 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) will continue to reach out to all levels of society, especially the younger generation, in order for them to better recognise Bernama's role as an authentic news source, says its acting chief executive officer Roslan Ariffin.

He said the ‘Let's Get to Know Bernama’ campaign in conjunction with the Kelantan Keluarga Malaysia Aspirations (AKM) Tour was part of efforts to raise awareness and confidence among the community to use Bernama as a reference point.

"Bernama is better known in the media industry...so we (Bernama) want to approach other groups, especially the younger generation, because in the digital age now, youngsters are actively sharing information in their groups, but sometimes their reference point is wrong.

"So, we (Bernama) want to educate them (the younger generation) so that they become good citizens in helping the development of the country. That is our purpose in approaching the younger group," he said.

He said this during an interview session with Kelantan FM at the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (K-KOMM) booth during the Kelantan AKM Tour held at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium here, today.

Roslan said Bernama would also strengthen its delivery methods in line with the latest technology that provides easy and widespread access to information.

He said in addition to following the series of AKM tours, Bernama was also involved in the RIUH-Keluarga Malaysia programme organised by K-KOMM and would continue the campaign in other states until the end of the year.

"We have a function to carry out the trust to approach and educate the public so that they are aware of important matters in the development of the country, and in the context of Bernama, it is (the delivery of) information.

"We want to ensure that the public receives information from reliable news sources and not the wrong places (references)," he said.

Earlier, Roslan also handed over basic necessities and vouchers worth RM6,000 to 100 tahfiz students and orphans of Pusat Jagaan Rohaniah, Gong Kulim, Pasir Puteh, through the Kasih@Bernama corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme in collaboration with Mydin Berhad.

Also present at the programme were Bernama TV and Radio Broadcasting chief D.Arul Rajoo, Bernama Corporate Strategy manager Zarina Rozali Roslan, as well as Pusat Jagaan Rohaniah headmaster Johari Abdullah and its manager Hulaimi Reseli.

Meanwhile, Roslan said that through six series of the Kasih@Bernama programme, Mydin Berhad had agreed to donate RM30,000 in the form of daily necessities to selected orphanages and tahfiz centres.

The Let's Get to Know Bernama campaign in conjunction with the three-day AKM Kelantan tour starting today will promote the news agency and its services to the community, stakeholders in the media industry as well as small and medium industries (SMEs).

The Bernama booth, which has received about 200 visitors as of 5 pm today, provides a variety of interesting activities including promotional packages for entrepreneurs that can only be found on the AKM tour.

Entrepreneurs also have the opportunity to appear live or recorded in interview programmes through Bernama TV's mini studio in the ‘Apa Khabar Malaysia’ and ‘Malaysia Petang Ini’ segments, while various attractive prizes are up for grabs by the winners of the quiz competition.

A visitor from Pasir Mas, Izzah Syahirah Mohd Nazi, 23, said she always followed Bernama's official Twitter account to keep up to date with authentic and trusted information.

"When I found out that Bernama was opening its own booth at the Kelantan AKM tour this time, I didn't miss the opportunity to visit it, and took part in the survey and quiz that were prepared," said the graduate of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT).

-- BERNAMA